Chapter 4: Whispers and Shadows
Kaeron stood frozen, the card still trembling slightly between his fingers. Eliana stared at it too, her brows furrowed in a tangle of curiosity and unease. The design on the front—a feral lion wreathed in blazing fire—was unlike anything they had seen. On the back, the message lingered like a riddle from a forgotten nightmare:
"Devils always watch."
"What... the hell was that?" Eliana whispered, finally breaking the silence.
Kaeron shook his head slowly. "I have no idea. But this... this isn't just some street thug. That guy vanished into a portal after activating three glowing stones. That looked like some serious power."
"And now this card." She turned it over in his hand again. "Feels like a calling card. Or a warning."
Without wasting another second, they turned and sprinted back through the city toward the Academy of the Forgotten. The streets were now draped in the velvet of approaching night, the golden city lights flickering on as the day retreated.
Sensei Xavier was alone in the academy's main chamber, finishing a document on his tablet when Kaeron and Eliana burst in. His sharp gaze immediately clocked their alarmed expressions.
"You're late," he said dryly, then saw the look in Kaeron's eyes. "Talk."
Kaeron didn't waste time. "We followed a suspicious man in a white suit down an alley. He had a suitcase with three glowing stones—blue, green, and yellow. He opened a portal with a hand sign and vanished. We couldn't follow... but he dropped this."
Kaeron handed over the card.
Xavier took it and turned it slowly. As his eyes landed on the flaming lion tattoo on the front, the color drained from his face. For a long moment, the only sound was the low hum of magical torches lighting the room.
His fingers clenched.
Eliana noticed. "Sensei? You alright?"
Xavier looked up quickly and forced a casual expression. "Yes. Just... unexpected. Haven't seen this in a very long time."
Kaeron and Eliana exchanged a quiet glance. They both saw it—the flash of fear in Xavier's eyes. The tremor in his breath. But neither pushed the matter.
"We'll form search teams," Xavier continued. "I don't know who they are, where they come from, or what their power level is. We will be cautious. Until we understand the threat fully, I don't want anyone engaging alone."
He slipped the card into a sealed drawer behind his desk.
"You both did well. You kept calm, gathered evidence, and returned safely. But it's getting late. Go home and rest. We start preparations tomorrow."
Dismissed, Kaeron and Eliana stepped out of the academy into the amber-streaked streets of Solkarion.
They walked side by side, the atmosphere lighter now that the immediate danger had passed, yet still held taut by the weight of Xavier's reaction.
"Did you see his face?" Eliana asked quietly.
Kaeron nodded. "He knows something. And whatever it is, it scared him."
"Do you think this 'Devils' thing is something ancient?"
"Feels like it. And if it is, we're dealing with a lot more than just a rogue group."
Eliana gave a soft sigh, then grinned playfully. "Well, at least it wasn't boring."
"You have a weird definition of fun."
"And yet you keep hanging out with me," she said, flicking his arm.
As they reached the fork where their paths diverged, they paused.
"Be safe," Eliana said, her usual joking tone softening.
"You too," Kaeron replied.
They parted ways with a shared smile that masked their thoughts.
Kaeron strolled down the quieter streets toward his home. The moon had begun its climb, casting silvery light across the rooftops. Just as he neared his street, a ragged figure emerged from a shadowed alleyway.
"Young man," the beggar said, voice dry and barely a whisper, "could you spare something to eat?"
Kaeron didn't hesitate. He reached into his pocket and handed him a few coins.
The beggar nodded, extending a trembling hand with a wilted yet fragrant rose.
"A gift," he rasped. "For your kindness."
Kaeron smiled. "Thank you. I hope things turn around for you."
The beggar bowed and disappeared into the shadows, his face never once visible beneath his tattered hood.
Kaeron tucked the flower into his bag and headed home.
Later that night, after showering and preparing for bed, Kaeron reached into his bag to move the rose. That's when he noticed something odd.
Tied delicately around the stem was a white card.
His heart jumped.
He untied the thread, slowly flipping the card over.
On the front was a symbol—two luminous wings, etched in delicate gold.
On the back, words in graceful cursive:
"The angels may whisper before the devil does."
Kaeron's breath caught in his throat.
The night suddenly felt colder. The flower lay still in his hand, its petals catching the pale moonlight spilling through his window.
The game had just changed.
And Kaeron knew—
Someone else was watching too.